1272 

55 
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>,*] TRUE EXPERIENCE 



I 




7» ->:| 



IN 



Spiritual Phenomena, 



BY 



3VE. 



M-A.PQ-. 



Afield, teutauqua 4k, §L |J. 



REPUBLICAN PRINT, WESTFIELD. 




1861. 




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c* - 



/A 



PEEFACE. 



During the space of nine years, the author of this little volume 
has often been requested to publish, in pamphlet form, some ac- 
count of his visions and experience as a medium of the Spiritual 
Phenomena. 

With all deference to the opinions of such as may honestly dif- 
fer in their views from the sentiments here given to the world, yet 
the writer begs leave to say, that, even should they appear opposed 
to the popular theology of the day, they are none the less true. 
Let the discerning mind of the enlightened age in which we live 
weigh every sentiment, and then pass upon the merits or demerits 
of tho auihor's labors, who here gives this pledge: — I have writ- 
ten nothing but what I have experienced in trance states; and that, 
if I have been deceived (which I cannot believe), it was by a 
Power over which I had no control. 

The public may be assured that they get the facts herein stated 

with much less care and cost than has been experienced by 

Their sincere friend, 

THE AUTHOR. 



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INVOCATION. 



&&tr 



Thou great Divine and Holy Spirit, who d we] lest in and 
throughout the infinitude of thy wondrous works, which speak to 
our spirits of the greatness of thy power, the infinity of thy wis* 
dom, the extent of thy goodness, and the unmeasured depth of thy 
exhaustiess love! for these manifestations of thy divine presence 
we adore thee; for 'tis here that, aided by thy Good Spirit, we 
see thee in all things as the centre of centres, the pulse of all 
hearts, the life in all forms, to the unnumbered hosts of which thou 
dost impart of thy overflowing beneficence. Yes: to the least 
infusoria, as well as to the highest seraph that veils his face before 
thy throne, Thou, Father of All! dost give all of life that they 
possess; for thou art all, and in all. When we behold thy power 
in the mighty deep; when we see thy outstretched arm in the des- 
olating tempest, and stand awe struck before the vivid lightning 
and the rolling thunder, — we adore the Majesty on high. When 
we hear the winds gently murmuring; when we feel ihe gentle 
gales of Spring, and inspire the sweet odors of myriad plants and 
flowers as they start into new life or open into ten thousand forms 
of variegated beauty; when we hear the heavens, in the hushed 
watches of the night, declaring thy glory, and the firmament speak 
ing of thy handy work, — 

Oil! who shall not fear thee and konor thy name, 
Who only art holy; who, only supreme! 

Blessed to God, the Father of All, who has given us an abiding 
hope and belief of an eternal, progressive existence, — we in Him, 
and He in us; an eternal life principle; an abiding hope of glory; 
a sure trust that all that we here iuherit that is mortal shall, in his 
kingdom, be swallowed up of immortality iu Life, — the Life of out- 
God. Amen. 



A 



MY FIRST VISION. 

I had my first virion in the fall of 1852, At that time, passing 
into a trance state of mind, I was more or less under a controlling 
influence for the space of eight weeks; in which time, I walked 
over all my former life. Every scene from my infancy was painted 
in vivid colors before my mind. Every act, good or bad, came be- 
fore me for judgment, and such as I had considered wrong, now, 
in passing over my life, appeared in their true character, — bad. I 
saw that many acts of my life had taken place under an influence* 
that I could in ro wise have resisted; yet they were, to me, bad; 
for u as a man thinketh, so is he." I will mention some acls which 
I had done in the course of my life which appeared wrong. I had, 
without necessity, killed harmless snakes, squirrels, birds, and other 
creatures, for which my better mind had at the time reproved me ; 
and now, in passing through this second spirit life, I review every 
instance, where I had destroyed life wantonly, come up before me, 
each preesnting the object wronged, that now demanded its rights 
and satisfaction for the outrage and injustice I had done* them. 

My course in progress was hero stopped until I pledged my honor 
that justice should be done them; after which I was permitted to 
pass on, but still impressed with the idea that the day will come 
when I must give to those creatures, whose lives I had thus de- 
stroyed, a full satisfaction, even if it shall require my life to pay 
the ransom ; for I meet every where the full assurance that God'g 
care is equally over all his works; that he is the eternal Father, 
the everlasting Centre of all being, — at once its source, its course 
its end; outflowing in his divine sympathy, like the pulsations of a 
mighty heart, conveying good to everv creature. Thus I saw that 
life was of God, to God, and for His disposal; and that God, as its 
eternal fountain head, will hold me strictly accountable for wantonly 



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abusing or destroying this diffusion of Himself, over winch ho un- 
ceasingly watches, in whatever form it may exist. 

I was now permitted to resume progressive life, while new scenes 
of beauty, and higher displays of wonders, met me on every side. 
I was permitted to view not only my past life, but my Angel Guide 
impressed my mind with sure glimmerings of the far-distant Future* 
I could see man in his primitive, atomic state, and trace his pro- 
gress as he passed through all the several developments of different 
formations from the centre of the mineral kingdom, until the radi- 
ating sun, uniting with the physical forces of nature, impregnated 
the earth with a higher life principle, a new life force; appearing 
as a principle of vast energy and rapid progress in the Vegetable 
Empite; rushing onward and upward in its resistless course from 
the mineral to the moss, from the moss to the sensitive plants, and 
onward to encrinites, polyparia, star fishes, &c, to the animal ; 
whence — after revolving ages, and many occurring, vast revolutions 
in our system, and corresponding changes throughout all the orbs 
in the universe , thus maintaining their pre-ordained homogenity — 
man stood forth, erect in his form, and bearing in his intellectual 
spirit the image of the presence and power of his God; a being 
destined to travel a course of endless progress till he come to that 
state of a perfect man, when the wisdom and love of the Holy One 
shall be stamped on his lofty brow, 

END OF THE FIRST VISION. 



ADDENDA. 

In passing through the vast scenes of development, I observe a 
regular ascending series of formations, according with Nature's 
fixed law of progressive growth, from matter to the mineral, from 
mineral to the vegetable, and from the vegetable to the animal, 
where it ascends by almost imperceptible degrees to the lowest of 
our race; from whence its progress is marked by historical and 



geographical lines and distinctions to the highest grade, the nobles 
form, of humanity, enlightened and elevated to heaven by science 
and arts, and purified and exalted by religion and love to the spirit 
life. 

Inherent Life in Matter is the corner stone, the sure foundation of 
all progressive movements in this or any other sphere of existences; 
which, as an energizing, ever-acting principle, flowing in resistless 
currents from God, its infinite Source, moves as a spirit of vital 
force upon every form cf being; giving it affinity, attraction, mag- 
netism, cohesion, life, instinct, and reason, in such degree as its 
state of progress on the Great Plane of God's progressive works 
and its own nature requires: for God has left no work of his infi- 
nite skill and wisdom either unfinished or imperfect in its kind. 



MY SECOND VISION. 

This took place in the fall season of 1855. I was under tho 
controlling influence about three weeks; in which time, I passed 
again over my former life, reviewed every act, almost every word: 
even my course of thought came before me for judgment; ail de- 
manding, in the name of justice, the utmost penalty for every act 
that appeared bad, by my submitting to the demand cf a bioken 
law. 

My sufferings were of such a nature that no pen can describe, 
nor anything but experience explain, I had never read or thought 
of their intensity. It was an agony of spirit, compared with which 
the pains of the body are light; and after my spirit had thus suf- 
fered, and been so purified as it were by fire, I could see myself as 
wool, or pure snow in whiteness. Then I seemed to walk with 
angels, to see events long passed, things present, and events hast- 
ing to their birth in the teeming future. 



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6 



My Angel Guide led nie back to Primeval Time, and showed 
me the earth in its pristine, gaseous state, floating in space, and 
impregnated with the life-producing principle, whence should come 
the mineral, the vegetable, the animal, and the human departments 
that diversify and adorn the earth. I saw this gaseous body con- 
dense around a given nucleus as its pole; attracting to itself, from 
its surrounding space, particles of matter, until its form became 
earthlike, when developed forms immediately came forth. 1 saw, 
as it were, waters oozing out of earth's primeval rocks; and these 
waters appeared as the spirit of life of the rocks, which mingled 
and united with the atmosphere, which, resting on the earth, vivi- 
fied the seeds of vegetation, which sprang up, ripened, and disap- 
peared in decomposition, until I could distinguish a likeness or 
appearance of a reptile, or higher form of life; and then rapidly 
onward the degrees of developed life passed through earth's myriad 
productions up to the reasoning, elevated creature, man; who, 
though rude and uncultivated in form and mind at first, yet he 
bore an unmistakable evidence of his high destination. 

I saw as they dispersed and settled in different localities and cli- 
mates, whence came different races; some of which were white, of 
more developed brain and mind, and more intelligent, than the 
]ess favored races; for they had taken more freely of the fruit of 
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, through which they 
had come to the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the 
spirit energies of man. 

END OF THE SECOND VISION. 



my third Vision 

Was in the year 1859. I was then controlled about six weeks; 
during which time, I passed through many varied forms of dying 
and sufferings by tortures, such as the Papal Inquisition and the 



less barbarous rites of savage cruelty can alone iavent for their vic- 
tim. I was forced to pass through fires of different colors, — white, 
blue, red, and green; which colors added keener pangs to my 
agony. 

In order to know what others had suffered, I found that I must 
experience those sufferings by passing through them in my own 
identity. I went through the process of having my heart and 
bowels torn out of my body and burned before my eyes; after 
which, I was forced on my back, and subjected to tortures, until the 
spirit standing by declared that my spirit could bear no more with- 
out leaving the body. Then I was broken on the rack, ground on 
htones, and pounded in great mortars, and made to pa^s the ordeal 
of every other penally that the genius of evil could invent. 

After this bodily torture, I was given up to a band of other 
spirits, who should affright my spirit with every kind and degree 
of fear. They would cause the earth to open, and foice me to the 
brink of the dark gulf, where no bottom couUl be seen, and com- 
pel me to leap into the horrid chasm. They would place me on a 
po'nt, and take the earth from before me, leaving only void space 
around, and order me te» take the dread leap into eternity. Oh, 
the awful dread and misery it caused me! They said I could not 
jump outside of God. Then, the more I jumped the less was I 
oppressed by fear; and so, by severe experience, I found this trutl » 
— that in all fear there is torment, ai'd that these spirits were cur- 
ng me of fear. 

I was now given over to a band of spints more cruel than the 
former ones. These demanded that I should use profane lauguage. 
I said I could not swear. With oaths and cursing, they said I 
should sw r ear; and brought forward their whips, ordering me to 
take one and strike them. I said I had no wish to do tbem a 
wrong, and that we ought to be friends. Then one of them, seiz- 
ing a scourge, sa ; d, "I will beget in you a propensity to do wrong; ' 
and commenced striking me, saying that I might return the blows, 
or not, as I chose; but he would whip me. I begged, but to no 
purpose: there was but this alternative, — either defend myself, or 
have the flesh flayed from my one side, and then to turn the other 



8 

also. After enduring this for some time, 1 came to the conclusion 
that, whatever might be urged from books, self defence was a higher 
law of our being; and that, if Jesus had made a law to the con- 
trary, he might carry it out, as I would the other ; and that I would 
be guided by reason and common sense instead of another's dic- 
tum. Lot him who makes laws obey them; for my combativencss 
having been aroused, 1 braced myself on my own identity and per- 
sonal dignity, and swore by the Everlasting, that, if he struck me 
pgain, he should feel the full force of a blow from me; when in- 
stantly he struck me with such force as scnmed to raise me from 
the ground. As soon as I recovered position, I brought the whip 
I had seized around him with an oath, and repeated the blow with 
an oath, saying, " How do you like that, — and that,— and that? 
He soon begged for quarters. I answered, with a fierce blow and 
an oath, that I would give back full measure, — u - an eye for an eye, 
and a tooth for a tooth,"— -as was his just due from me; and, when 
justice was done him, I would be satisfied: which done, a number 
of spirits came forward and greeted me with "Well done, good and 
faithful ! You have been faithful iu this ono thing. You have 
meted out justice to the oppressor. You have not stood before the 
ruffian who smote you on the one cheek, and meekly turned to him 
the other. That was a law given by Jesus, a Jew; and let the 
followers of Jesus obey it. It is the dictum of slavery; and with 
slavery 'twill exist and end." 

44 You see," said the spirit, " that your antagonist had no wish for 
peace, and no sympathy in your pain; but pain in his own spirit 
soon begot in hiai a sympathy fur others. You see, also, that strict 
justice will ensure peace." I answered, * 4 Yes; I shall always re- 
member this." My guide, smiling, said, " Experience is a good 
school;" and I was left alone, for a time, to ponder on my experi- 
ence, in my own mind, as it had been thus far in my spirit life. 
After this, I was surrounded by a band of spirits who said they 
had come to try strength with me. These had no weapons, except 
what nature had given them. They said they wanted a leader; 
and the one that could conquer the company should be its captain. 

No sooner was this proposition made than T felt a confidence that 



1 should be their leader: so, assuming my dignity, I at otce offered 
them fight, if they would take me at fair play, — one at a time. 
They accepted my proposition readily, and brought forward their 
best band to combat with me, As he came within striking dis- 
tance, I caught the eye of my guide, which gave me assurance f 
and reminded me of my former trials. I struck, and, uttering au 
oath, I brought my antagonist to the ground; and, having ray 
organ of combativeness laised to its extent, I dashed into the midst 
cf the company, uttering a fierce oath that I would annihilate the 
whole band if they would not make me their captain. They gave 
ui) the contest, and raado me their leader; when I learned that the 
first business assigned us was to fight our way, step by step, to the 
lowest hell; for my guide said I could know and understand how 
much the lost suffer only bv my own experience, and that I would 
not bo counted a faithful soldier unless I would suffer as much as 
any one. 

I now desired to know what there was, in any department of na- 
ture, that man need fear. One of ancient date had said, " If I 
make my bed in hell, Thou art there" So hell may be a tolerable 
place, after all its disparagements: at all events, it seemed to be 
thickly peopled. So, whether I live or die, I am resolved to visit 
the renowned place, and see for myself if it be fact or fable. 

My guide informed me that the faithful subject spirits of those 
regions, under their Prince, would dispute my way. I was there- 
fere uniformed and equipped as an officer, and my soldiers weie 
equipped and rationed to their full satisfaction, and addressing them 
in the manner of the Grecian of old, that we would conquer or 
sleep with Pluto, 

As their head, I swore by the living and the dead that I would 
give no quarters on any plea but complete submission; and, a!l 
agreeing, we took up our line of march to the imperial city, fight- 
ing our way like heroes to its very gates, which I found no one 
could enter until he had sworn allegiance to the government; which 
my former principles rendered a hard trial, 

At length, I sent a messenger to learn if we could join company 
with thsm, and was answered that we could if we desired to; but 
2 



10 

every man must act for himself. We agreed to disband, and each 
take care of himself. T took the oath of allegiance, and entered 
the city; when all fear immediately left me, and, with heartfelt 
aspirations and thanks, T bowed befoie and worshiped God, who 
kindly received me, and gave me the keys of his divine treasures. 

Oh! most beautiful is this city of hell, in the midst of which I 
am laying the sure foundation of my heaven; a heaven where fear 
has no place, for its inhabitants are purified and exalted by the fire 
of God's eternal love . 

END OF THE THIRD VISION. 



MY FOURTH VISION. 

In this vision, my guide conducted me to an extended plain 
when before me I saw a vast multitude who were of the Roman 
Catholic order; around whom I saw, as it were, curtains let down 
from heaven, which as a wall of fire that hemmnd them completely 
in; and on this wall appeared the figures of all manner of instru- 
ments of torture: and I heard, as it were, the voice of a lion, say- 
ing to them, " The day of your judgment has come!" Then out 
of this wall of fire came a voice, saying to the angel that stood in 
the midst of the fire, "Weigh them strictly in a balance; and, if 
they be found wanting, do unto them as they have done unto 
others." Then I beheld their failure, and that they were all con- 
signed over to the avengers, who caused them to pass through the 
same tortures which they had inflicted on others, until every jot 
and tittle of justice was satisfied. Then I said, " Thou art truo 
and righteous, our God ! Thou art no respecter of persons: but 
thy throne is founded of eternal truth aud justice, and thy immu- 
tability remains the same from everlasting ages. Amen." 

I saw that, after this multitude had suffered, they appeared in 



11 

heaven, in white garments, purified from earthly stains, and exult- 
ing in celestial knowledge and happiness; for their sufferings bad 
taught them to love mercy, and their forgiveness had taught them 
to forgive others. 

I further learned from my guide, that great tribulation made 
great friends, and that all suffering was for the ultimate good of 
him who suffered ; not in uniting us one to another here, but in 
raising our minds to aspire to true knowledge,-^-the treasure that 
awaits us on high when our spiritual development shall bring all 
our faculties into complete, harmonious action with nature's holy 
plan. Then shall each one draw from the well whose pure waters 
shall spring up in his bosom a fountain of life and felicity. 

I saw that, in all thinge in nature, there were opposites. Thus, 
pleasure has its pain; life has its darkness; sweet has its bitter; 
life has its death; heat, its cold; and good, its evil: justice has its 
injustice here; and here virtue has its opposite in vice: great senius 
has its double in assinine stupidity; and white-robed Peace, in 
blood stained War. How was the mildness of Jesus met by the 
satanic ferocity of the Jewish priesthood! and how has the Church 
of Rome revelled in the fires of the inquisition ! Let histoty tell 
the sad story . 

END OF THE FOURTH VISION. 



My fifth VISION; 

This took place in July and August, 1860, at which time I was 
controlled about two months; and here, while I passed through 
some of my former experience, yet most of this vision was to me new. 
When I found the controlling influence upon me I begged of the 
lady with whom I boarded that there mignt be nothing said with 



12 

regard to my being again under spiritual control. My reason for- 
th is was that those who do not believe in the phenomena of Spiritu 
alisai had considered me deranged while passing through the suffer- 
ings and even tortures of my former visions, and had put mo in prison 
and chains-— not for any act of wrong that I had done, but from fear 
of my doing such act. I did not charge thosa men with intentional 
unkindness toward me at that time when I was greatly afflicted, 
for they acted up to their stand-point of development; but I desired 
that my state of mind might be kept secret lest that I might again 
be subjected to similar trwatment, but the spirit drove me from my 
quiet room to the field, and to physical labor while my spirit was 
bowed down by an influence I could in no way resist. I was di- 
rected to go to John Chase, Farmington, Pa,, a Medium controlled 
much as I am, and assist him in work at haying. I went, and I 
think, that never in my life have I worked harder than during the 
two Weeks that I was with Chase. If I got tired in the field his 
remedy was to whip me with his hands which he did with spirit 
and power, that is, he obeyed the injunction, Whatever your hands 
find to do, do it with all your might. I was benefited by his treat- 
ment, and when I left I was not permitted to receive any pay, I 
returned to my boarding house on the first of August. The con- 
trolling spirits directed what I should eat that morning, and from 
the first to the twelfth day of that month at two o'clock P. M. I 
was not allowed to take a morsel of food nor drink save one pint of 
pilre vinegar. 

I passed through every feeling of death by starvation; but my 
will-power was taken from me. I could not will to eat, although 
I suffered for the want of food beyond my power to describe; for 
while iu this state of fasting, I could hear voices within me, saying' 
u You mu9t eat, or we must die; or you must dismiss us, at d send 
us away." I demanded who they were. They answered, "Spirits 
l hat have our home in your organization. We occe had a body on 
G arth like your body; but, like fruits falling before maturity, we 
left our natural bodies before our spirit forms were prepared to re- 
ceive us; so wo took possession of your house. Wo feed on your 



13 

food, and drink on your drink." I said, " Is this possible!'* and 
wondered much. 

1 then heard other voices in my body demanding food, and pei- 
C3iv3d that my flesh was a mass of living minds endowed with 
fueling and intelligence; all of which would urge me to eat. Then 
I called to mind the words of Jesus, "This kind go out only by 
fasting and prayer;" and I soon found that, by the acts of fasting 
and pr«yer, I was getting rid of many undeveloped spirits, which 
were an injury to my mental life and progress, and which, if left 
in my system, would engender disease and irregularity, and destroy 
it: but they were compelled to leave. 

After passing through this process of purifying, I found my bouse 
swept and garnished, and rendered fit for the habitation of a spirit 
of higher intelligence to dwell in; and thus I learned that it was 
for my own good that spirits more exalted controlled me, and led 
me in the spirit to higher spheres of spirit life. It was here n y 
guide led me till we came to a river, whose waters were of crystal 
purity and clearness, and from whose surface the light was reflected 
in rainbow hues. The scene was beautiful beyond description. Its 
atmosphere was mellow; and I wished that my nature was such 
that I might dwell in the midst of its purity. 

My attention was called from this scene by a voice of exquisite 
sweetness; and, turning, I beheld an angel form, of celestial sym- 
metry and beauty; on whose azure brow was wreathed a garland 
of living flowers. Her garments were of pure white, bound around 
with a girdle of burnished gold, studded with diamonds; and she 
sung the song of the redeemed in the ever-blooming bowers of this 
heaven formed Paradise. In her hand she held a banner, and 
waved it towards me in sign of recognition. On this banner, I 
read, in letters of gold, her name when on the earth,— Hannah,— ^ 
and instantly knew her to be my once earthly companion, but who 
had passed, long since, from time. She reached out her arms as if 
to embrace me, and invite me to cross the river; but I knew that 
my elements were too gross: and, while hesitatiug, my father ap- 
peared; and he also beckoned me to pass over. My whole spirit 



u 

was alive to the scene. Oh, how it longed to meet and embrace* 
them! I asked, "Can I pass through this river and live?" My 
father answered, " My son, you are' immortal." I asked, " Did you 
pass through ? " He answered, " All have passed through these 
waters that are on this side; To your present form, this is a gulf 
impassable. Its passage will be to you like a devouring fire ; yet 
you will rejoice when you have passed it; Will you come ? " I 
said, u Yes ; " and, in a moment, a car appeared, ready to cross 
over. I took a seat. It moved slowly but surely on, and entered 
the atmosphere of death. In anguish of soul, I cried, " My God ! 
my God ! why dost thou forsake me ? " Language cannot describe 
the pains I suffered while in my mid-passage. The fire seemed to 
rage through every part of my frame, and I thought that my spirit 
must fail before it. In this glowing heat, I seemed to melt away ; 
and the dross of my system was consumed. At this time, a divine 
spirit met me, and gave me strength to pass on; and immediately 
iny father came forward, and we met in the bosom of that holy 
God who is a consuming fire. He said, " My son, you have done 
well. Go with me." And he gave me a robe of beauty, and a 
ctowd, on which was engraved a wreath of justice, that displayed 
my sufferings ifi bright colors. 

When we reached the shore, we were greeted with shouts of wel- 
come from the multitude; and, among this vast and happy con- 
course coming to greet me, I saw my much-loved Hannah. Wav- 
ing her banner, she said, "We have met again. Here we may 
embrace, and then pass on to yonder world of divine beauty which 
lies there, in that region of light;" and she directed my mind to a' 
glowing star, wnere I saw my name written in letters of fire. As 
I gazed upwards with admiration, breathing the sweet perfume of 
Paradise, and drinking in its waters of life, my companion said, 
" These worlds are our home* 'Tis here God, our Father, opens 
his divine hand, and satisfies the desires of every living creature; 
and here all work the greatest good of mankind, — the unity of the 
works of Him who is the Immutable Head over all things. 

END OF THE FIFTH VISION. 



15 



MY SIXTH VISION. 



In this vision, I was carried in the spirit, on wings of love, to a 
more beautiful sphere than I had heretofore seen. My mental vis- 
ion being opened, I beheld worlds piled on worlds, and systems on 
systems ; each revolving around its own central point. I saw, also, 
a vast plain, adorned with living fountains, green trees, and flowers 
of every form and color; with thousands of birds, of richer plum- 
age than is known on earth, chanting sweet melody to charm the 
inhabitants of this paradise-like region, who wander by cooling 
streams of waters, gushing from natural reservoirs in crystal purity; 
adding freshness and new charms to the glowing scene. 

All nature seemed to harmonize in her own blest principle of 
love. And here, in the midst of this transporting region, I saw, as 
it were, a throne, founded on sapphire, transparent as glass; on 
which were seated two divine beings of ancient date, in whom the 
wisdom of the Infinite shone forth in their most perfect forms and 
superior development. Their vestures were as the pure atmosphere, 
blended in ravishing dyes. On their heads were crowns, formed 
from wreaths of their hair, intertwined with precious jewels, more 
perfect than earth's mines can yield; and even these took their 
high beauty from the spotless brows upon which they rested. 

At length, this Divine Head spoke to the multitude around the 
throne as follows: — "We have long and with faithfulness reigned 
over the earth. We have ruled according to our wisdom. We 
now seek retirement, and such solitude as shall give us leisure io 
study earth's future, and to learn her destiny. . To the wisdom of 
those whom you may elect to fill our places we commit you; and 
here we bid your happy hosts farewell. We go through many 
changes to inhabit higher spheres, reached only by deeper experi- 
ence in the predestined course of progress to the blest state of a 
perfect man. We exhort you to be faithful as imitators of the 
Holy One until we shall all meet on that high plane of humanity's 
goal where all will be united in the life of God." 

A chariot as of fire appeared, into which they entered ami 1st 



16 

tie silent adietis of the multitude ; and, soaring on high, it seemed 
k cloud, whose brightness no sun could excel in its majesty and 
glory, until it passed beyond sight in the vast concave of heaven. 

After this, there was silence in the celestial spheres for a time; 
and then the Bow of Promise appeared in a blaze in its full splen- 
dor, shedding on the earth its mellow radiance, that filled our hearts 
with devout aspirations of praise and thanks to Him who so kindly 
displays to us his glory. The silence of the spheres was now bro- 
ken in songs of joyous spirits, rushing in strains of harmony from 
the cerulean skies, as if all above had joined in one common strain 
of joy, of higher notes than earth-born man can raise. Spirit be- 
ings, decorated in the regalia of the upper worlds, appeared float- 
ing as clouds of whiteness, wafted by gentle gales through a serene 
media. Sweet odors and joyous sensations fell around us, and the 
deserted throne was lighted up nvith a sublime brilliancy; in the 
midst of which, the sovereigns who were to succeed the departed 
ones appeared, amidst the cheers of the vast concourse of men, and 
the unnumbered harmonious spirits that rilled the heavens with 
melody ; while others, echoing and re-echoing, shouted, " Ye are' 
worthy ; " amidst which welcome, they took their seats on the 
throne. 

The Divine Father was arrayed in a garment of pure white linen,- 
bound around with a sash bordered with the purest diamonds. On 
his head was a crown, formed from his own hair, in which was a 
jewel that reflected the light, as did also the jewels that enriched 
the throne, which shone forth in the clear atmosphere as the un- 
clouded sun in the regions of space. The Mother Sovereign was 
dressed in a pure white vesture, woven by angel hands in forms of 
diamonds, and studded with jewels. Her hair was wrought by 
"Wisdom's hands into a living crown, wreathed with jewels, whkh 
reflected the rays of light in proportion to her spiritual develop- 
ment; and the vast multitude round about the throne bowed, in 
token of firm allegiance; for the will of the throne was the ulti- 
mate of all the spirits of this sphere of light, life, and love. 

At this moment, all eyes were bent upward . A bow of bright- 
ness seemed to span the heavens; and a beiDg of pure intelligence J 



17 

whose glory was divine, came forth, and approached tfre throne- 
when the sovereigns bowed before him. He raised them, and join, 
ing their hands, and said, " What God now joins together let uo 
one put asunder;" and there were voices of approbation and an- 
theras of praise heard from the skies above us, which seemed to 
vibrate to the scene of pure happiness. The divine messenger now 
placed his hands on the crown upon their heads, when new life 
coursed through their hearts, and glowed on their faces, which 
shone with divine hpauty ; causing every beholder to give them the 
love-reverence* and obedience which is their due. 

When this messenger of glory had finished his work, and seated 
our sovereigns on the throne, he was again received up into heaven, 
with displays of serial beauty, harmony, and glory that no tongue 
can describe. The whole expanse seemed to be lighted up with 
electric meteors, that, like gentle showers, fell upon the throne and 
on those who stood around it; which united all in the stoong bonds 
of sympathy which flowed out towards every living thing that had 
life on the earth . And I saw a balance before the throne, in 
which all sympathetic wishes and affections were weighed by the 
rule of exact and impartial justice; and on its bar was inscribed, 
in flaming characters as of living light, " Justice to every one, as 
their works shall merit." 

END OF THE SIXTH VISION. 



MY SEVENTH VISION? 
OR, VISION OF THE DISTANT FUTURE. 

In a trance state, my mind, leaving its casement, passed into a 
more congenial atmosphere, suited for a higher and holier contem- 
plation of Nature's grand volume ; and, as her sacred pages were 
spread before me, I read from her inexhaustible store of wisdom 
3 



18 

the finale of temporal events and eartbly scenes, until these shall 
be merged in the spiritual. All earthly things are but types of 
spirit realities; and thus all the realities of the celestial spheres 
have each their counterpart on the earth: and thus it is that the 
exact sciences have their perfect fullness in the spheres where " Wis- 
dom dwells with Prudence, seeking out knowledge and useful inven- 
tions." And thus it is, also, that the electric conductors of these 
exalted planes are caused to reach, and to convey life, to the remot- 
est bounds of the universe. % 

I saw the spirit forms of all things that exist in forms, and con- 
sidered the inventions of ali aores in their original form in the 
spheres. I beheld the inventions, and their improvements, of the 
implements of wai^—- the war-club, the bow, the tomahawk, the 
knife of the savage; the sword, the rifle, the cannon, the battle- 
axe of the Christian; the faggot, the stake, the chain, the fire, the 
wheel, and the dry-pan of Rome's inquisitors; the block, the axe, 
the scaffold, the guillotine, and the gallows of civil powers. I saw 
balloons scaling the clouds for experiment, or resting in the air for 
reconnoisance of armed hosts. I saw a machine that should tra- 
verse the air by machinery, similar in its working to that which 
drives the propeller through the waters. I saw railroads, with cars 
moving over them, propelled by magnetic force; and I saw tele- 
graphic lines, extending from sphere to sphere, till they reached 
the earth downward, and ail the worlds on high upward; thus con- 
necting all worlds in their irresistible embrace. 

I saw a machine they called Ezekiel's wheel. It was the great- 
est invention of the spheres, — a wheel within a wheel, — and so 
constructed as to move by the positive and negative forces seated 
in itself; and, directed by the will of the person within, it moved 
with lightning rapidity. And many inventions wero treasured 
there, waiting an introduction to our earth, which will soon be. 

I saw many renowned persons from the earth ; among whom was 
Napoleon Bonaparte, Lord Nelson, George Washington, and many 
others who had been chief actors in other times and nations. I 
saw Washington and Napoleon commanding mighty armies; march- 
ing forth in order of battle, and drilling in tactics of war, far more 



19 

advanced in its arts and strategies than is practiced on the earth. 
These mighty armies were prepaiing thorough discipline for the 
coming of the great day of God Almighty. Their step was as the 
step of one man ; and the commands of their officers were given 
and obeyed with exactness. These two grand divisions are to 
march forth, led by their Generals, under tho direction of Him 
whose garments have been dipped in blood, and who had a name 
written upon his vesture, and upon his thigh, — "King of kings, 
and Lord of Lords." 

In my vision, I saw the hosts of unbelievers, who rejected tho 
doctrine of Jesus, preparing to make war on the professing followers 
of Jesus. I saw the officers of this army composed of men of all 
periods of time. There shone, in armor of gold, Esau: here rode 
forth Holofernes, TSaaman, and Cora^ Dathan, and their company : 
yonder, Bolingbroke, Hume, Gibbon, Shaftsbury, Condorret, Robe- 
spierre, and Paine are marshalling their forces; while by their side, 
in all the dread panoply of war, rode the Mormon generallissirao 
and prophet, Smith. 

Here were soldiers from the nations destroyed by Moses and 
Joshua, making fierce war against their old destroyers. Here were 
the Indians of Mexico, in their ancient costume, bearing clown on 
their Spanish invaders; and here was that invincible hero, King 
Philip, with his red warriors, waiting in ambush for the pale-faced 
foes. Those who once felt the scourge and the rack, the tortures 
and the Ores, of the Inquisition; the Christian's slaves, — a host, — 
and those who, on tile scaffold, after condemnation from the hands 
of human justice ; the robber on land, and the pirate on the seas, — 
all were banded for the work of destruction. 

I saw Jesus, riding forth on a majestic war horse, as the Ccm- 
raander-in Chief of the Christian army; at which I wondered, and 
asked my guide if this was the same Jesus, who, while on earth, 
taught his disciples the doctrine of passive obedience and non- 
resistance. My guide answered, "Yes," But more still was I 
astonished when a herald rode forward, and cried to the mixed 
hosts, " Ob, misguided men \ can you be honest and true when you 
protend to see faults in our commander V 1 They answered by giv- 
ing battle. 



b 



c 



20 

Before this army I bowed my'jhead, 
I As I saw before me their mighty dead. 

Kings and Emperors from all Christian lands, — 
On the side of Jesus they did stand. 
s Bonaparte and Washington 

}: Were on the side of Jesus, the Son, 

e All the priests of Christendom 

Appear'd, decked with their holy plume, 
To fight the battle of their Lord, 
t Contrary to his sacred word. 

( These saw I fighting in this sphere above, 

To 'pease their God, — a God of love! 
Before the army of the God of Justice these hypocrites fell; 
And I heard their number who were cast down to hell. 
i My guide said to me, "Look, both far and wide, 

, And see the hosts that stand on Justice's side. 

'T-is thus, by fire, the oppressed of every nation 
Are purified and fitted for salvation. 
These suffered in their lives; these on the earth did die; 
And their own blood their souls did purify : 
And firmly they will ever stand, 
In their bright sphere, on solid land ; 
Blest above sheep who turn to goats, 
And hypocrites who turn their coats. 
Even Jesus preach'd, and Jesus prayed, 
And unto his disciples said, — 
'Love your worst foes, and give them food; ' 
But see these Christians stain'd with blood! 
Even Jesus, who this gospel made for man, 
Stands first and foremost in the vengeful van, 
Overriding all his vesture dipped in blood; 
Treading the winepress of the wrath of God! " 
All this 1 saw; then gazing far awajL 
Unto the morn of another resurrection day, 
When a thausand years had rolled on, 
The deliverance of those who worshiped the Son, 
In which time, they were purified, and their work was done. 
Then I saw all the various nations of men 
As they came before the God of Justice again. 
He saw each desire, and wide opened his hand, 
And satisfied all of this vast-waiting band; 
When the nations and peoples, in sweet accord, 
Bowed low, and acknowledged and worshiped their Lord. 
Even those whom stern justice had punish'd in hell 
Confess, d the Almighty had done all things well. 



21 

My guide now made me understand, that the doctrine taught by 
Jesus, of bve and good will to all men, was the doctrine of life in 
God ; and that it would be fulfilled when man became so far de- 
veloped in wisdom that all the organs of his head should be, and 
act, in unison with the laws of nature. Then man would practice 
on these doctrines as the spirits do in the higher spheres. But the 
doctrines were superior to man's orgauic construction here on tho 
earth; and that there was not one — not even Jesus himself — that 
had fulfilled the high doctrine of perfect love: for he was tempted 
in all things like his brethren; and the same scripture affirms that 
" he that is tempted is led away by his own lust, and enticed." 

Perfect love is a principle of passive obedience aud non resist- 
ance. This was the doctrine; yet he made a scourge of cords, and 
drove the trafficking Jews, out of the temple, overthrew their ta- 
bles and ordered that those things should be taken thence; and, 
should he fulfil his own precepts, he could not sit as Judge, and 
condemn his enemies; for he had laid down the rule, " Love your 
enemies; Bless them that curse you; Do good to them that de- 
spitefully use you, and persecute you." If Jesus acted on the high 
plane of his own laws, he could judge no man but by the perfect 
law of love, — the love that worketh no ill to any one of the uni- 
verse. But Jesus could not save himself fiom the cross, for he 
had not lived up to the perfect law of love. He taught that man 
should be perfect, even as his Father in heaven is perfect; and that 
that Father is a God of love . 

Think not that Jesus, who was not able to save himself from 
death, — even the death of a malefactor on the cross, — will be able 
to save you from the penalty a perfectly just law awards to tho 
violation of the laws of organic life. Look at the conduct of the 
nations that call themselves Christian, who profess to be followers 
of this lamb wheresoever he leads!! and see how far they fulfil the 
divine precepts, — "Avenge not yourselves; Render to no man evil 
for evil, but contrary wise blessing." Even his priests leave his 
altars and preach up war against their brethren; and, dropping 
their bibles, seize the sword, aud aid to cast their warring, perhaps 



22 

rebellious and traitorous, brethren into prisons, or consign them to 
the- gibbet. This is not to love your enemies, but contrary to the 
whole tenor of the divine law. Oh ! how can you escape a reward 
according to your works when you meet the true and righteous 
judgment of a God of Justice. 

END OF TEIE VISION OF THE FUTURE. 



VISION OF THE NIGHT. 

In my bed, in the night's still watches alone,— none to disturb 
the quiet that surrounded me, but nature seemed hushed in repose, 
— 'twas then that I heard voices of prayer to me for mercy; be-' 
seeching grace, not for himself, but for his only child j — mercy for 
one hour! With a heart full of sympathy, he owned the just suf- 
fering of the righteous judgment of tbe God of Justice. He ap- 
pealed, through me as a medium, unto the higher tribunal of mercy 
that rejoices over judgment, that the hand of justice might be 
stayed for one hour as he looked on, and felt tbe wasting agonies 
of his son. He appealed to me, asking if I were a father? and 
had I a son? I gave answer in the affirmative; andj at the same 
time, the God of Justice gave the desired reprieve, through me, to 
his son, — not for one hour only, but for two hours; in which time 
I was permitted to give the story of my child's life on earth, and 
Ins progressive development thus far in spirit life. 

"Bear with me," said I to the spirit as I commenced as follows: 
— "I had a son; and ho was one of those that were cursed before 
he was born. His mother was diseased with consumption, and ho 
inherited her disease, and was thus ushered into the world, not by 
any act of his own will, but by the fiat of a God of injustice. Be- 
ing poor and oppressed myself also, — one cursed from the first 



23 

dawn o» my existence, robbed of my birthright, — I had no place 
on the earth that I could call my own; upon which I might lay 
my aching head, or that of my waning child. Yet I lived in the 
midst of those who are called Christians, by whom 1 was despised 
and thrust aside because I was poor. Yes! those showy professors, 
like the priest and the Lovite of Jewish times, would give me a 
wide berth as I lay in my wounded state, or look askanne at my 
poverty with a shrug of disdain. But while they are going up to 
their temple to pray, and while they are praying to their jealous 
and wrathful God, in my spirit bonds I will enter into my closet — 
the depth of my stricken heart, — and there breathe forth my re- 
quests to the God of Justice and mercy, that he will give to every 
one their right. The heavenly voice would respond, ' My son! be 
patient: thy God is no respecter of persons.' But my son sickened 
and died, and my mind followed him into the spirit world. Oh, 
how glad was I *o think that he had passed beyond 1 this cold earth 
to the bosom of his kind heavenly Father, and mine, — to his God 
and my God ! In that day , I appealed to my God, as you have 
this night appealed to me, that my son might have an hour of 
peace. The voice came back to me in sweetest accents, '.My grace 
is sufficient for him. His weakness is perfected in my strength' 
I will be his exceeding great reward.' I bowed in submission of 
spirit before this divine power, and said, 'Thy will be done.' " 

As I finished this narrative, my spiiit friend bowed his head, and 
re ired: and then I learned that, while on earth, ho had been rich 
in earth's goods; that he had known my son, but had never bene- 
fitted any one; that both his son and himself, since they had en- 
tered the spirit world, had endured great sufferings, such as can te 
known only by experience; and that at this time, when he appealed 
to me as a medium to show mercy to his son, he had become pos- 
sessed of an entirely different nature than he had while on the 
earth. He had learned, by sad experience, that no Jesus could 
save evil doers from the award meted out to their deeds by the 
God of Justice; that his balance was just and equal; and that, as 
there was happiness, so there was misery; and that, while he had 



24 

been happy oil earth, others as good, or better, than himself had 
been borne down by sufferings which he might have relieve 1 • 
Thus every one finds his sum of happiness or unhappiness bal- 
anced in the end. 

Ob, then, ye oppressors of mankind! ye would-be great! ye who 
are rich in this world's goods! ye honored of earth ! remember this: 
Ye must be born again, There is an entire new birth; and, as 
you have been born once to honors, so you must be born again to 
dishonor; as you have been born rich, ye must be born agtin 
poor, as ye have had servants, ye must become servants; as ye 
have had slaves, ye must become slaves: for, as ye have measured 
out to others, it shall be measured to you again by a God of Jus- 
tice. Do not imagine that you or your children are any better in 
his sight than others; but learn rather, that justice will be meted 
out to every one as his work shall be; that every one must work 
out his own salvation through fear and sufferings, Teach your chil- 
dren that it can never be obtained by or through the riches and 
honors of this world. There is no being that would always suffer 
on the cross that you may be always happy; nor should you or 1 
ask fcr, or take, the priceless ^jift on such terms. Neither one of 
those called holy men — and much less he who, from his divine life 
here, was called the Son of God — would or could endure an eter- 
nity of suffering; nor could a God of Love so doom the innocent 
to save the guilty. 

And yet, there are thousands preaching this doctrine, calling it 
the word of God; and tens of thousands following in their wake, 
whose faces crimson with no blush when they ascribe such a char- 
acter to thy holy name, Father! Canst thou forgive such blind 
ness of mind to all that is holy, just, and true in thy worshiped 
attributes? Such men are led, by conventional creeds, to set at 
naught their reason, their consciousness, their common sense dic- 
tates, and the known operations of cause and effect, according to 
the immutable laws of nature; every operation of which are by the 
ordination and decree of Nature's God. 

O ye priests, who speculate in the gospel of Jesus, and make 
merchandize of the justice of God ! and ye, their followers for pop- 



25 

iilarity's sake, and Who profess to be Jesus' disciples! do you not 
know that the all-seeing eye of Justice will detect your iniquity ? 
Do you not know, that in a God of eternal purity we all live, and 
move, and have our being? and can God be pure himself, and yet 
have an impure world within himself? Oh! how can your belief 
produce other than bitter fruits, — the fruits of Sodom, — fit only for 
the righteous condemnation of Him, — the Just and Holy One ? 

END OF THE VISION OF THE JJGHT. 



ViSION OF THE PREACHED 

Mt God is a consuming fire; and, as all live, and move, and 
have their being in him^ the time will surely come, in which all 
that exists in him must be pure. God is an Infinite being. Then 
can any one person or thing get outside of infinity, or, which is the 
same, outside of God? If notj then all things are done, and all 
events take place, in God. 

Is anything done that is wrong? If you answer in the affirma^- 
tive, then on whom is the blame, — God, man, or the devil? If 
there be a devil, and God is an infinite being, existing in his divine 
infusion,— all in all,— the devil must live, move, and exist in Him 
as well as man ; and he must so remain, for God cannot cast him 
out of his own infinite self; for, if any being or thing can get out^ 
side of God, then is God not infinite. Does the universe, with all 
it contains, exist in God? and does God uphold all things by the 
word of his power? Is he omniscient? Is be omnipresent? Is he 
omnipotent? Did he create all things by the word of this omni- 
potence? and, having so created, did he pronounce all that he had 
made very good? Did he see all his creatures as of him, and to 
him, and for himself alone ? If so* did he see anything outside of 
himself? anything that he himself had not made, blessed) and pro~ 
nounced good ? 

4 



26 

Again : If anything can exist outside of God, then is God not an 
infinite being, nor is his knowledge infinite; for, as he is infinite? 
he cannot see or know what is beyond the infinite; that is, beyond 
himself, — beyond his own omniscience. No being can get outside 
of God, nor can God pass outside of himself: therefore God will 
subdue all things to himself; causing them to become pure as he is 
pure, and holy as he is holy, — thus showing that he is no respecter 
of persons; but, as his fatherly hand sustains the high angelic 
hosts, so also does he^end his eye — 

On the least wing that flits along the sky. 
He hears each gay, and each distressful, call; 
And with unsparing bounty feeds them ail. 

Nature and man's consciousness both agree in their testimony, 
that, for the intellectual creation, there is a judgment constantly 
awarded, which is sure, and always according as every one has mer- 
ited by his works; nor can any one whose deeds are evil escape the 
penalty of meeting a God who is a consuming fire to all that is 
worthless and evil. 

Think not, man! — whatever a preacher may have said, — that 
the unspotted garments of a Moses, a Job, or a Jesus will ever 
cover your moral deformity. Think not that your attendance at a 
popular church, and joining in its lip-services one day in seven, will 
open the kingdom of heaven to your sin-stained spirit, or tend to 
your advancement in high spheres of spirit life and celestial purity 
and love. No ! Instead of reposing on borrowed merits, of walk- 
ing by the reflected light of bonowed oil, you will be obliged, 
sooner or later, to v/ork out your own salvation . 

Think not for one moment, that the child — born to affluence ? 
petted and idolized by mercenary parents — will reach the same 
plane of spirit life and development that the child will occupy 
whose pathway on earth's hard surface is marked by the blood that 
has flowed from his bare feet; who has suffered the extremes of 
cold and hunger, — been despised, persecuted, and robbed of the 
great birthright which God, his heavenly Father, designed for him^ 



27 

Oh! think not that the petty lordling, with gloved hands, will be 
accepted with God with greater favor than he whose back bears the 
marks of the oppressor's scourge. Rather assure yourselves, that 
the representation of the states of Dives and Lazarus in the spirit 
world tells a tale of dread realities. Assure yourselves, also, that 
the fashion of this world is fast passing away; that all things 
earthly are changing: the rich man will become poor, and the poor 
man rich; for God will confound the wisdom of this world, and 
exalt lim that is lowly. 

Hasten, then, to this day of God! Prepare for this mighty 
change that will convulse the nations of the earth to their centres ; 
for the mighty angel, sent by the God of Justice, shall stand, with 
one foot placed on the land, and the other on the sea, and swear 
that times, such as have been, shall be no longer; for, thus saith 
the Alpha and the Omega, " Behold, I make all things new. The 
oppressed and the down-trodden of the earth shall be my sons and 
daughters; and I will pour out my spirit upon the desolate places. 
And I will give unto him that is athirst, that he may take of the 
waters of life — spiritual, life eternal, life progressive to infinity — 
freely . 

ESD OF THE VISION OF THE PREACHER. 



VISION OF THE FUTURE. 

My mind here entered into an element more congenial for be- 
holding the phenomena of nature; and my mertal vision being 
enlarged by a psylogical illumination by nature's laws, I was per- 
mitted to behold the scenes which will take place in the distant 
future of man's development. 

Nature, through all her realms, is consistent with herself; and 
she enacts like scenes in the spirit spheres as she performs on the 



28 

earth: and thus I saw, visibly shadowed forth, the emigrating of 
thousands and tens of thousands of beings that had laid aside their 
grosser earthly habiliments, and had become indued with the forms 
and elements of spirit life. As they moved onward toward their 
destined place in the distant west, dressed in robes bearing differ- 
out devices, according with the vast improvements of that remote 
time; with martial music pealing forth strains in harmony with 
Nature's spirit-choir that enlivened the echoing atmosphere, — the 
feathered songsters of every grove responded to their divine, mel- 
ody ; while the star-spangled banner of true liberty waved in tri- 
umph over the dovedike unity. 

The earth seemed as a scroll to unroll itself, and to expand into 
a vast plain on the atmosphere, until it met, and united with the 
other planets of our system: and its rivers seemed as beautiful lines 
of water, flowing in crystal purity, crossing each other in right- 
angled lines; thus dividing the earth into squares, representing the 
chief power that had ruled on the earth; and these squares again 
divided by highways into lesser squares that represented the smaller 
powers. The squares under emperors, with their improvements of 
all ages and times, were there : the lots under monarchical govern- 
ments were there; showing the vast labors of ancient date, and the 
progress of man in all times. Representative governments, — where 
Liberty stood erect, and Progress moved with rapid strides, — sp. 
peared in glowing light. Ecclesiastical rule during all the ages 
of man were displayed, with their thousand varied forms of wor- 
ship, and methods of appeasing their offended and wrathful God. 
Those who worshiped the Great Spirit according to the light that 
Nature had poured around them were here represented : and I saw 
that each, by external show and superficial adorn ment, r strove to 
excel the other. 

I saw the fleets of all nations navigating those crystal waters, 
laden with the productions of earth's most distant regions, and 
greeting each other by their colors as they passed to and fro. Ob, 
bow beautiful was this varied scenery, thus everywhere displayed, 
Twas a paradise of glorious scenery. 



29 $8 

Yonder one might behold man in his primeval state, simple and 
unaffected; while near, and more near, you might see him in his 
progressive condition, — surrounded, not as at first by the sublime 
and stupendous productions of nature, but by the arts and sciences, 
the comforts and splendors of enlightened social life. The banks 
of the rivers were adorned with the arts and productions of each 
nation . On the banks of the monarchical powers appeared their 
proper emblems and devices. On those where liberty prevailed 
was seen the tree of liberty, glowing in its inviting beauty. On 
the ecclesiastical rivers was strewn their thousands of churches, 
with mottoes and devices characteristic of their sectarian views. 

I here turned my eye to the rivers of the children of nature; 
and, lo! their banks were adorned with forests of waving trees, 
whose ambrosial tops breathed life, giving perfumes. Entranced 
with the prospect, I lingered over the spirit-inspiring scene. The 
Indian wigwam rose in its natural simplicity, whitened and ren- 
dered pure by its spiritual progression; and seemed beautiful as, 
with its dark-eyed inmates, it stood in the midst of those celestial 
groves, where varied evergreens intwined in wreaths of flowers 
around the pathway of the gazelle like Indian maiden as she passed* 
onward to bathe her graceful form in the crystal fountains. Here 
the Bird of Paradise peals forth his happiest notes, and the speckled 
trout played unharmed in the purling streams. 

From those beautiful spirit lands of the Indian, I passed on 
through the different realms where science and art had attained 
their highest perfection. Here sculpture and painting had imitated 
nature and life; and here architecture had reared her palaces and 
monuments, of excellent workmanship, and of astonishing gran- 
deur. I saw the mighty cities of both ancient and modern times 
blending in unison with the progressed improvements of the spirit- 
ual spheres; and, after satisfying myself with contemplating the 
crowns, the sceptres, the glory, and honors spread out before me , 
I joined the countless throng as they rushed from all the nations 
and tongues of the old world, and took up their line of emigration 
to the land of liberty in the far distant West; the native home of 
virtue, patriotism; the asylum of oppressed humanity; the land of 



30 

t'he free; where the holy law, written in the heart of man, qualifies 
him for self-government . 

In this sphere, I beheld the exceeding beauty and ever-expand- 
ing glory of the human race. This beautiful land of liberty is 
divided into farms, or lots; and these lots are separated from each 
other by a row of trees, set in a line around each lot, — beneath 
which there is a common walk. The trees bear all kinds of highly 
cultivated fruits, which are common, or free to all, Every one has 
his or her lot, and adorn and beautify it to suit their own taste. 
Each male or female has a house, built on their own lot, according 
to their own ideas of beauty in architecture. They do not marry 
or give in marriage: but the lady has a right to send a billet to 
any gentleman whom she may wish to visit her; and, if he le 
otherwise engaged, he makes a reasonable excuse. The rivers are 
used as highways for all public travelling ; but, on invitations, they 
travel the shady walks. 

Their horses are of most beautiful form , and are used by their 
own desire for the ladies and gentlemen to ride, but not to abuse. 
There is a commcn pasture in the midst of every four squares; 
which forms the fifth square, in which all the domestic animals are 
here common for all. The inhabitants live entirely on vegetables, 
produced in abundance on each lot. Beautiful walks through the 
fiower gardens; on either side of which, grapes of delicious flavor 
cluster around the vines, and hang pendent from the trees. They 
have no winter there. There are large public squares that are 
adorned with common and public houses; and there are public 
squaies for days of celebration, and dancing. They have no 
churches for public worship; for their God dwells within them. 
There is no sun there; but the divine arch of the higher spheres, 
studded with gems, giveth light to their beautiful world. All na- 
ture is in harmony in this sphere: and in this sphere is my home; 
for it is the land of the free. But I must tarry here until called to 
the higher spheres. 

END OF THIS VISION. 



31 ^/ 



A COMMUNICATION FROM A FRIEND IN SPIRIT LIFE. 

My Dear Friend, — I promised you, when I was in the earthly 
form, that, if I were allowed, I would come and converse with you 
in regard to my spirit life. This is the first time that conditions 
have been favorable for me, that I might control your physical 
powers in a way that I might express my sentiments through you 
in writing. 

My exit from earth's sphere to this spirit life was so incompre- 
hensible to me, that I wondered at the wisdom everywhere dis- 
played by an Intelligence altogether beyond my comprehension. 
Oh, how little did I know or realize of a spirit being ! Had I once 
dreamed of the real formation of a spirit, or of the localities of 
spiritual abode, I should not have been so regardless of nature's 
laws, nor have acted as I did on the earth sphere. 

How opposite to the laws of nature was I taught by those whom 
I looked upon as my spiritual guides on the earth ! How inconsis- 
tent was I when I pinned my belief aud faith on those who knew 
no more about spirit life and spirit forms than the wild Arab knows 
of our enlightened state. Not even a glimpse of spirit life in its 
reality, nor a particle of its dread realities, is made known to you 
by those who pretend to teach in the churches of popular theology. 
Not one in a thousand of them have the least conception where a 
spirit goes when it leaves its earthly form. 

O ye blind guides! how can you lead those equally blind to tho 
spirit world, when you have not even the least idea where the spirit 
world exists? Did you know that the spiritual kingdom was within 
you, and around you ; and that disembodied spirits have their abode 
wrthin your own organic form, and that the vast laboratory of na- 
ture is everywhere full of spirit life; that the air you breathe, tho 
water you drink, and the ground you press beneath your feet, all 
teem with spirit life, made for and developing into man, and from 
man passing on into higher orders of intelligent beings ; that all 
matter-T-whether found in globes, spheres, or single atoms — is en- 



S2 

dried with the life principle j and made to subserve the divide prin- 
ciple of intelligence, — you would never abuse or underrate the 
creations of the one God and Father of all. 

With your eyes in their natural state, you cannot see a disembo- 
died spirit; but spirits may assume forms or bodies so gross, that 
mortal eyes may in some cases behold them. The spirit that is 
ultimated in spirit life, under certain conditions, may take posses- 
sion of any matter more gross than itself. Your bodies are tem- 
ples, then, for spirits to dwell in; and so the tree, the leaves, and 
the flower. All nature teems with spirit life of its kind. Th3 
spirit has a form, congenial to the body in which it dwells; although 
to your eyes it is imperceptible. Gur sight is so magnified, that 
we can see each spirit form of nearly the size of our former earthly 
bodies. To your grosser vision we disappear; yet we have a per- 
fect organic form. We eat, drink, sleep, and labor, similar to 
earth's scenes. 

W T hen I speak of disembodied spirits, I mean the immortal life 
principle, — that which can clothe itself in any outward garment, or 
form of body, such as it has laid off; and we have laid off all forms 
of bodies beldw man : therefore we can pass from the form of man 
to that of the animal ; then to the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, 
through all their varieties. We can go, in spirit life, to all forms 
below us, and enjoy the happiness of every form ; but wo are not 
prepared, by developed progression, to enjoy happiness in spheres 
above our plane: but, when we shall have progressed to those 
spheres, their happiness will be ours. To reach the higher spheres^ 
we must pass through great tribulation ; but what that tribulation 
is, is known only to those who pass through it. You, my friend, in 
your visions in the higher spheres,— higher than I have reached,— 
know what it is; and you compare it to fire in your third and fourth 
visions. 

My labors thus far in the spirit life have <>een directed to coun- 
teract my earth born, preconceived opinions, and to conform, as 
nearly as I may with my yet inherent grossness of mind, to the 
divine rule that nature places before me. Had I been taught as 
Nature's children are taught, — even in the wilderness wilds, and 



33 

far from civilization,— it would have been better for me than to 
have been instructed as I was, contrary to the laws of my nature. 
Mankind should teach what they know, and no more. Wo to the 
man that pretends to teach and instruct others in wisdom's paths, 
which he himself has never explored. Wo to all those who as- 
sume to be preachers of any revelations, or inspirations, except 
their own. How can any one teach, in its purity, an inspiration 
given to another ? In order to know, you must experience. The 
inspiration of a Jesus was not your inspiration : nor is any inspira- 
tion recorded in the Bible, or any other printed book, your inspira- 
tion; but only a record, or history, of an event that happened to 
some other person. Let the preacher, then, be inspired, and preach 
his own inspirations: then you will see the fruit, and be able to 
judge the tree that bears it; for the inspiration will be its own, — 
not begged, or borrowed. 

Most men can learn and repeat, or at least read, what is recorded 
as the sayings of a Jesus; but to speak as Peter did, what flesh 
and blood had not revealed to him, — that in Jesus dwelt the Christ 
— is to be taught by inspiration from the Father, or the Divine 
Spirit: and as he hears this divine impulse speak within him, so 
let him speak; and it will be given him in that same hour what he 
should speak, without bringing written sermons of borrowed inspi- 
rations, pretending a divine origin three thousand years ago; many 
passages of which were set aside by Jesus, in his sermon on the 
mount. Such divine inspiration would exclude the necessity of 
paying a hired preacher ten, twenty, or fifty dollars per Sunday for 
doing up your praying and preaching for the week. Hear and 
obey this inspiration of the Divine Spirit, and it will guide you into 
all truth. The time is at hand when all shall be taught of God, 
from the least to the greatest. 

Oh, that I could inspire the minds of earth with a true know- 
ledge of self-progression! Every one must labor for himself, and 
not depend on another's work for salvation; for he who so fixes his 
hopes on what another has said, done, or suffered, will never meet 
the sentence, "Well done," when he shall enter the spirit sphere. 
Bead Nature^ volume; every line of whicb is written by the finger 
5 



34 

of God. Listen to tho still, small voice within, and all will be 
right. Teach your own sentiments ; for every one must be account- 
able to himself for what he teaches; for selfhood will bring you to 
trial if you transgress Nature's laws. Let all, then, govern them- 
selves according to those immutable laws: and that the grace of 
the infinite variety of minds may influence you all, and lead you in 
Wisdom's ways, is the desire of her who was, and who still is, your 
friend S. L. 

M. L, Sherman, Medium. 



ADMONITION FROM THE 8PIRIT WORLD, TO THOSE 
MINDS ON EARTH WHOM ST MAY OONCERN. 

Dear Friends , — By permission of the all-wisa God, in whom we 
live and have our being; and in accordance with nature's law, that 
mind can control mind, and spirit may unite with spirit of its own 
affinity; and as there is light and intelligence in spirits out of the 
earthly body, that it can, according to the law of its nature, unite 
with the life and intellectual principle of spirits in the body, — we 
impress or control minds in the body by psycological influence; 
which is the agent, or medium, through which we, at tkis time, 
convey, our thoughts to you. 

We also receive impressions from your minds on earth by sym- 
pathetic cords that run from your minds to all minds in the spheres 
that are in your affinity. Ask, then, and ye shall receive, if ye ask 
according to the law of justice. It is not every one that cries, 
" Jesus, Jesus," or ''Lord, Lord," that shall receive, but he that is 
worthy, that has the divine oil in his vessel, and his lamp trimmed 
and burning; not lighting his own path only, but the pathway of 
others, in the truth. 

There is no use in asking for blessings on yourself, if, contrary to 
the divine law, you curse others by your words, or by your deeds. 
It matters not to you how bad others may be, or appear to be, in 
your sight. You have no right to sit in judgment on them, and 
pronounce them sinners above all men; for you have not a full* 
knowledge of tho influences that surround them, and thus you have 
no authority given you to judgo your neighbor as wrong; for all 



35 







3 



j udgment is given to the Son of Righteousness, or the Son of Wis* 
% dom, who alone can see every influence that causes the man to act; 
and such a being will judge the world in righteousness. 

Let no hasty priest or Pharisee judge any being to eternal 
flames, but rather bless; for, as ye judge others, ye will be judged; 
as ye condemn, ye will be condemned. Let the judge be careful 
how he gives his judgment. Let the lawyer and the doctor see 
well how they practice; for God respects no man's person or pro- 
fession . 

Will the rich man look over his books, and square his accounts 
by the rule laid down by Jesus? Render unto Caesar the things 
that are Caesars, and to God that which is his due,— worship, and 
honor, and true obedience to his precepts. Give unto all their due 
Trust not to an after repentance; for no repentance will save you 
from the reward of your own works; for every one shall receive as 
his works shall be . Let the slaveholder beware how he enslaves 
his brother man ; and let all in authority watch, for the Son of Man 
will come in an hour when ye look not for judgment. Let such 
as lightly transgress the laws of their organisms know that every 
transgression shall receive its just reward; for no law can be vio- 
lated with impunity. 

W"e earnestly entreat all who use intoxicating drinks or drugs 
(as opium or tobacco, either by chewing, smoking, or snuffing), all 
immoderate tea or coffee drinkers, or eaters of flesh or high-sea- 
soned food, — we entreat all such to regard the divine declaration* 
that God will bring into judgment every action, whether it be good 
or evil. Ob, then, beware lest you meet the agonies awarded as 
the penalties of self indulgence. Yoar spirits will carry these un- 
natural desires and propensities with themselves into the spirit 
world. It is not the body that conceives these propensities to wast- 
ing habits. No! After the spirit leaves the body, the flesh craves 
none of these things that evil habits make so necessary to you; nor 
do the animal tribes use them. Do your spirits retain, in increas- 
ing ratios, the vain desires you pamper here? And if so, may not 
the inordinate wants that press upon you in the spirit world, where 



§6 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



ihej' dan find no gratification, form you 

ishment! Man's natural wants are t 022 007 276 9 

from Nature's liberal hand. This is truth; and truth is divine in- 
spiration: and the Medium, through whom these truths speak, is, 

so far, divinely inspired, 

M. L. SHERMAN. 

THE END. 



TO THE MEDIUM; 

Dear Sir, — I thank yon for the interest yon take in the welfare of my son. 
I rejoice that there is a chance opened, by which I can communicate with 
my wrongly instructed family. I find myself yet in existence. Oh! let me 
stop and weep. Shall I say, all those like me are adjudged to punishment? 
Alas! as I have preached to others, the same must I suffer. I find that I 
have got to do my work all over again; f >r the greatest part of it has been 
done wrong. I have got to commence from my cradle; and as far as I have 
done right, or acted in conformity with Nature's inspiration, so far all is 
well: but when I began to follow the advice of others, contrary to reason 
and my own intuition, that moment I left Nature's path unregarded, and 
was no longer governed by the true light that is ready to enlighten every 
one that is born into this world. 

Man is, or ought to be, a self-progressive being; and he should be always 
led and instructed and governed by that divine magnet within his breast, 
which wovld guide him, if listened to, into all truths. Oh, then, let my 
family, as well as the world, be admonished that they should be guided by 
that still, small voice within them, which approves or condemns every act 
of a man's life. 

Would you be tiuly educated? Follow not the voices that cry, in public 
places, Lo, here is Christ! or, Lo, there! Oh, this creed will save you! or 
this mode of worship will assure to you the kingdom of heaven; which 
kingdom (if you have ears to hear the spirit-voice of nature) is already 
within you, and embraces your longing spirit with a divine energy, — the 
euduring love of the Saviuor, who is ready to give this, his holy kingdom, 
to the followers of the Lamb. 

Oh, how great has been my disappointment! how wrong to sell, as mer- 
chandize, the gospel of Jesus! I would ask God to forgive me; but there 
is no forgiveness for me. I must bear the penalty for breaking the law of 
Jesus which I preached to others. I must suffer as others suffer who have 
failed to keep God's commands, in their pure and holy meaning and spirit; 
for God is no respecter of persons or offices. 

Say to the dear friends, — to whom I promised, while on earth, I would 
come to them again, if I could. — that this is the first opportunity that I have 
had to tell them of my state or condition. I may visit yoa again. Oh! re- 
member the watch I gave you, and my prayer. Farewell! 

M. L. SHERMAN, Medium. 
July, 1860. 



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